WALTER CORSER
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Grave ( no.399 as listed in Monumental Inscriptions Bellie Churchyard and New Cemetery by Moray Burial Ground Research Group. )
Pte Walter Corser no.2204511 was born in Fochabers on 20 January 1884 and eventually trained as a carpenter. He enlisted at Victoria, British Columbia, in the 7th Battalion Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment) in October 1917. He served in France, and died of wounds in the Canadian Military Hospital, Devonport on 3rd October, 1918. He was the son of Alexander and Isabella Corser of Huntly Lane, Fochabers.
He lies beside his family grave no. 400 on which stone his name is also inscribed and telling of his death at, Devonport. There may not be many similar cases of personnel from Empire services buried beside family members. ( The family stone also records that his brother Alexander was lost on board H.M.S. Vanguard on 9th July, 1917. H.M.S. Vanguard blew up while anchored at Scapa Floe, just five weeks or so after taking part in the Battle of Jutland. Alexander was born in Keith on 28th January, 1875. He joined the navy at Devonport on 4th July, 1891, becoming a Chief Petty Officer. He served in China, the Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf, the Mediterranean Sea and Home Waters and was awarded the China Medal and Somaliland Medal with bar.
The Corser family home was in Huntly Lane (now eastern section of Maxwell Street), Fochabers. Their mother predeceased them; their father died four years after the end of the war.
The Morayshire Roll of Honour records :
CORSER, Walter. No. 2204511, Pte., British Columbia Canadians ; born at Fochabers, Parish of Bellie, 20th Jan., 1884 ; joined at San Francisco, California, U.S.A., Oct., 1917 ; served in France ; died of wounds in the Canadian Military Hospital, Devonport, Oct., 3rd, 1918. Son of Alexander Corser, Huntly Lane, Fochabers, and Isabella Clark or Corser (deceased). Occupation, carpenter.
The Scottish War Memorials Project records :-
Corser Walter Pte 2204511 7th Canadian Inf (British Columbia Regt) b Fochabers 29-1-1884 e Victoria BC Age 34 03-Oct-18. Son of Alexander and Isabella Clark Corser, Huntly Lane, Fochabers, Scotland. Occ Carpenter. NoK Alex Corser, Main St., Fochabers. Morayshire Roll of Honour: page 68. Mil. Service. Yes. Bellie Burial Ground UK. His name appears on the Fochabers War Memorial under Colonial Regiments.
A SMITH
Commonwealth Graves Commission Grave (no.557 as listed in Monumental Inscriptions Bellie Churchyard and New Cemetery )
Serjeant Alexander Smith No. 265125 of the Seaforth Highlanders was born in Bellie Parish and resided in Garmouth. It is recorded in Forces War Records that he Died of Wounds at Home (but see two items below). He was the husband of Isabella Smith of Hope Street, Portgordon ; his parents lived in Spey Bay. ( Died Home means in the UK. )
The Northern Scot of 4th August, 1917 records :-
“Sergeant Alex. Smith, Spey Bay. The sad news has been received in Spey Bay that Sergeant Alex. Smith, Seaforth Highlanders has died in hospital through blood poisoning. Sergeant Smith, who was the eldest son of Mrs. Alex. Smith, Tugnet, Spey Bay, was wounded on April 9th, and so severely was he injured that one of his legs had to be amputated. After being removed to hospital in Leicester he succumbed, and the deepest sympathy is extended to his widow and three children. Before enlisting, Sergeant Smith was employed at the Duke of Richmond and Gordon’s fishery station at Portgordon.”
The Morayshire Roll of Honour records :-
SMITH, Alexander. No. 265125, Sgt. 1/6th Seaforths ; born at Tugnet, 29th Nov., 1885 ; joined in Morayshire, 4th August, 1914 ; served in France ; wounded, 9th April, 1917, and died of wounds in London, 23rd July, 1917. Son of Alexander and Isabella M. Smith, Tugnet, Spey Bay. Occupation, salmon fisher.
The Scottish War Memorials Project records :-
Smith Alexander Sjt 265125 6th Seaforth Highlanders Died Home 23-Jul-17 Son of Mr and Mrs Smith, Spey Bay, Morayshire ; Husband of Isabella Smith, 7 Hope St., Port Gordon. Bellie Burial Ground U.K.
His name appears on the Fochabers War memorial.
ROBERT WILLIAMSON
WILLIAMSON Commonwealth Graves Commission Grave (no. 537 in Monumental Inscriptions Bellie Churchyard and New Cemetery)
Private Robert Williamson No. 12207 of the Gordon Highlanders was born at Auchenreath in 1896.
The Morayshire Roll of Honour records :-
WILLIAMSON, Robert. No. 12207, Pte. 3 /6th Gordon Highlanders ; born at Auchenreath, 28th July, 1896 ; joined at Keith, 21st May, 1915 ; died on service, 10th Nov., 1915. Son of George Williamson, Auchenreath, and Annie Taylor or Williamson. Occupation, farm servant.
His name is inscribed on the War Memorial at Alves
The Scottish War Memorial Project has the above images and the following entry :-
Robert Williamson Pte 12207 6th Gordon Highlanders born Auchinreathbellie (sic) 28/07/1896 enlisted Keith Age 19 Died Home 10-Nov-15 Son of George & Annie Taylor Williamson, Auchenreath. Memorial : Inchstellie. Morayshire Roll of Honour : Page 544 : Occ Farm Servant. Bellie Burial Ground, Moray, U.K.
Forces War Records states that he Died at Home, birth town Auchinreathbellie, Banffshire, (sic) and resided in Keith.
( Died Home means in the UK. See below. One can assume that he may have been working on the farm at Inchstellie near Alves when he enlisted, and therefore was regarded as a resident of the parish. His name does not appear on the Fochabers War Memorial.)
Banffshire Advertiser of 18th November, 1915 in DEATHS column has :-
WILLIAMSON – At the Army Hospital, Dundee on the 10th inst, Private Robert Williamson, 6th Gordon Highlanders, sixth son of George Williamson Auchenreath aged 19 years.
And
Banffshire Advertiser of 24th February, 1916 has :-
PORTGORDON BROTHERS WHO DIED FOR THEIR COUNTRY
(Picture of Pte. J. Williamson) (Picture of Pte. R. Williamson)
Above we reproduce photos of two brothers belonging to the district, who played their part in the great war and have given their lives for the country at a very early age. They were sons of Mr. George Williamson, Auchenwreath (sic) , Portgordon, and were in the gallant Gordons.
Pte. John Williamson was the fifth son. Before the war he was a policeman in Paisley, but he came to Aberdeen and enlisted in the first Gordons in May 1915. He proceeded to France in the month of July, and on 20th December he was killed in action, being shot through the left lung. The fallen warrior was only 20 years of age.
Pte. Robert Williamson, who was the sixth son, was a postman in the Enzie district before enlisting in the 3/6 Gordons in May last. He was stationed at Barry Camp for some time, where he took ill and died in Dundee War Hospital on the 10th November, 1915. Although he had not had an opportunity of facing the Huns, he died in the country’s service, and the death of a young soldier at 19 years is greatly regretted.
Peter S. Dawson, February, 2014